the livi ng reefin reef-protected waters, scuba dive and fish reefs throughout the islands, and ride...
TRANSCRIPT
LivingReef
the
coral reef is aliving organism,
and a living reef gives our islands life.It is both protector and provider – a reservoir
of food as well as a buffer against the destructive
power of the sea. Hawaii’s coral reefs and near-
shore waters are home to more than 7,000
marine life forms – a quarter of them found
nowhere else in the world. This spectacular
diversity can still be seen in the protected waters
of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but in
the main Hawaiian Islands, pollution, sedimenta-
tion, alien species, overfishing, and other threats
are degrading our reefs. Scientists estimate that
our nearshore fisheries have declined by 75%
over the last century. Fishermen tell us there are
“way less fish.”
Today, many scientists, fishermen, local communities,
and native Hawaiians are working to restore our marine
resources – through enhanced management, stepped-
up enforcement, and a new spirit of cooperation that
serves the greater good.When we allow our reefs to degrade, we lose the important
ecological and economic services they provide, as well as
a big part of the collective natural and cultural heritage
of our islands. The quality of our environment and the
quality of our own lives are diminished. So, too, is the
quality of life that we pass on to our children.
It is time we take care of our ocean, and not just take
from it. Healthy, living reefs are in everyone’s best
interest. We all have a stake in their future, for in many
ways, they determine ours.
Hawaii’s cultural traditions and our islandway of life are intimately tied to the sea.
Restoring the health of our coral reefs is essential ifwe are to create a sustainable future for our islands.
Gifts from the Reef
Corals are one of the oldest life forms on earth and
coral reefs have existed for tens of millions of years.
They are home to such a rich diversity of life that
they rival rainforests as biological storehouses. Coral
reef communities fringe the entire Hawaiian archipel-
ago, sheltering us from the destructive power of the
sea. More than 300,000 acres of reefs surround the
main islands alone – an area comparable in size to the
island of Kaua‘i. In more ways than we might realize,
our island lifestyle depends upon our coral reefs.
Existing just below the surface of theocean, out of ordinary sight, coral reefsprovide us with countless benefits – fromthe fresh fish we eat to the surf we rideand the beaches we enjoy.
T h e O c e a n ’ sS u p e r m a r k e tCoral reefs occupy less than 1 percent of
the ocean’s surface, yet they are home to
one quarter of the world’s fish species.
Filled with crevices, holes, niches, and
ledges, coral reefs provide shelter, breeding
areas, and lifelong habitats for fish. They are
nurseries for the newborn, secure hideaways
for juveniles and adults, and abundant
sources of food for fish, shellfish, and
invertebrates. Around the world, hundreds
of millions of people rely on coral reefs for
food. Here in Hawai‘i, fresh seafood is an
island tradition. Visit any local fish market,
seafood emporium, or restaurant and you
can enjoy the bounty of the reefs. Lobster,
squid, octopus, ‘opihi, limu, and tasty
reef fish like kole and kumu are among the
many delicacies our reefs provide to
Hawaii’s people.
“In more ways than we might realize, ourisland lifestyle depends upon our coral reefs.”
N a t u r e ’ s B r e a k w a t e r sFor the people of Hawai‘i and millions of others who live on tropical islands, coral
reefs are nature’s breakwaters. They buffer the land and coastal inhabitants from the
ocean, stabilize the shoreline, provide natural harbors, shelter nearshore homes
from storms and big waves, and protect seashores from sand erosion. Without
the protection of the reef, our beaches would be severely eroded and our
coastlines would be in jeopardy.
U n d e r w a t e r P a r k sAs islanders, we snorkel in the coral at Kealakekua Bay and Shark’s Cove, swim
in reef-protected waters, scuba dive and fish reefs throughout the islands, and
ride waves at dozens of reef-generated surf breaks. More than 7 million visitors
come to Hawai‘i every year, and almost all of them engage in these same ocean-
related activities. It is estimated that Hawaii’s offshore reefs contribute more
than $350 million a year to the state’s economy, or about $1 million a day.
S a n d m a k e r sWe can thank our living reefs for Hawaii’s white, sandy beaches. Beach sand is
created from coral fragments ground down by wave action. Coral is also ground
up into sand by parrotfish, which feed on soft, thin coral tissue and excrete pul-
verized limestone in their waste. The native marine algae Halimeda is yet another
source. It deposits calcium carbonate/limestone in its leaves, which break down
and become sand.
S u b s i s t e n c e a n d R e c r e a t i o nFishing is a way of life in Hawai‘i – part of our cultural
heritage and our local culture. The reef provides food
for subsistence fishing families in Hawai‘i, and is an
important recreational activity for many others.
Sharing our catch with family and friends is an
island tradition as old as fishing itself.
N o R e e f , N o S u r fIn Hawai‘i, the quality of the surfer’s wave is dependent on
the shape of the reef. Because there is no continental shelf
(a gradual decline from the shoreline to the deeper ocean)
around the Hawaiian Islands, ocean swells approach the shore
unhampered. Most of the waves that surfers ride are formed
when the swells hit reefs – rising, breaking, and curling.
M a s t e r B u i l d e r sCoral reefs are the planet’s largest living structures,
reaching the dimensions of Australia’s 92,000 square-mile
Great Barrier Reef. The raw material of this construction is
the calcium that polyps take in from the sea and convert
to an external limestone skeleton. One generation of coral
colonies builds atop the last, creating the foundation of a
vast underwater architecture.
Vast branching orchards give way to sleek plateaus.
Rivulets of tiny grains wend their way into serpentine
canals. Imposing monuments are capped off by every-
thing from jagged turrets to rows of domes in the shape
of cauliflower heads. The entire reef pulsates with the
comings and goings of thousands of marine creatures.
They drift past in great schools, dart furtively in and out of
labyrinthine passageways, and hide out in cracks and
crevices and dark, cavernous holes. Forget the idea of the
ocean as a watery void – in reality, it is a finely integrated
cosmos and the coral reef, more than anything, is what
keeps it alive and vibrant.
Rising out of the monotony of theopen ocean, the coral reef appears likea submerged metropolis, its structure ariot of form and color.T
Rhe Architecture
of the eef
A S y m b i o t i c R e l a t i o n s h i pAt the core of the coral reef is a remarkable exchange
of “goods and services” between two different life
forms – one animal and one plant. The coral polyp,
one of the simplest of all animals, is little more
than a tube, capped with a mouth and fringed
with stinging tentacles. The polyp has many
reproductive strategies, but it mostly makes
new life by cloning itself. This produces
colonies of genetically identical polyps
attached to one another. The polyps nourish
themselves with their very own internal gardens
of single-celled algae known as zooxanthellae.
The algae keep the polyps healthy by con-
verting the sun’s energy into carbohydrates
and oxygen. In return, the algae reap fertilizer
and food from the polyps, released in the form of
carbon dioxide and other waste products. Up to a
million algae can live inside a single polyp. Scientists call
this cooperative arrangement a “symbiotic relationship.”
Fringing Reef Barrier Reef Atoll
C h a r l e s D a r w i n
Finally, marking the spot where magma first erupted from
the Earth’s molten core and heralded the existence of the
mid-Pacific chain some 50 million years ago, there are the
seamounts and atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Their embrace of blue lagoons extends 1,200 miles to
Kure Atoll. Beyond Kure, the land is subsiding so fast it
outpaces coral growth, and the reef is literally drowning.
This end point, which paradoxically was once thebeginning of the volcanic chain, is known asthe Darwin Point.
Illustration adapted from Larry Friesen, Saturdays.net
D a r w i n ’ s P o i n tCoral reefs form rings around volcanic islands. Why this is so remained a
mystery until the 19th century, when Charles Darwin proposed an explanation
confirmed by scientists today. The process begins when corals encrust onto a
newly cooled volcano. Reef expansion proceeds in shallow and warm water
where the corals can access the sunlight they need. Over the millennia, the reef
continues to build upward while the volcano slowly sinks into the sea. Eventually,
this leaves only an atoll, a ring of reef enclosing a lagoon.
This constructive artistry of nature is illustrated by the way
reef formations in Hawai‘i vary between the youngest and
oldest ends of the chain. On the island of Hawai‘i, at the
youngest end, coral colonies are still coalescing on the
submerged slopes of active volcanoes. Moving northwest,
more developed fringing reefs encircle the older islands of
Maui, Moloka‘i, La-na‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i.
MidwayAtoll
Pearl & HermesAtoll
LisianskiIsland
LaysanIsland
Maro Reef
GardnerPinnacles
French FrigateShoals
NeckerIsland Nihoa
Island
Ni‘ihau
Kaua‘i
O‘ahu
Moloka‘iMaui
Kaho‘olaweHawai‘i
La-na‘i
KureAtoll
N O R T H W E S T E R NH A W A I I A N
I S L A N D S
L Nife Like
owhere Else
The first corals and marine creatures
floated here on ocean currents and then
hunkered down to begin life anew, 2,500
miles from the nearest continental land
mass. Strong currents and cooler tempera-
tures at the northern edge of the tropics
presented challenges for the new species,
which depend on warm, shallow water.
Out of hundreds of genera of coral, just five
came to dominate in Hawai‘i. Within these
hardy groups, remarkable species evolved
that were adapted to the new habitat.
Over evolutionary time, Hawaii’sisolated Pacific location gave riseto one of the world’s unique coralreef communities.
Yellow tangs and convict tangs eat the
algae off the back of a green sea turtle.
This moray eel isn’t eating his
dinner — he’s getting his teeth
cleaned by a scarlet cleaner shrimp.
S a d d l e W r a s s ehina-lea lauwili,
Thalassoma duperreyi
H a w a i i a nM o n k S e a l‘ ı-lioholoikauaua,
Monachus schauinslandi
B a n d i tA n g e l f i s h
Apolemichthys arcuatus
C h o c o l a t e C h i pS e a C u c u m b e rloli, Holothuria sp.
B a n d e d S p i n yL o b s t e rula, ula poni, ula hiwa,
Panulirus marginatus
Today, about 25 percent ofHawaiian corals are found nowhereelse in the world. The same is trueof roughly a quarter of the 7,000marine creatures supported byHawaii’s coral reefs.
This tailored attunement of species
to a specific place is called endemism.
No other coral reefs of similar size and
expanse on the planet have a higher
rate of endemism than Hawaii’s.
The downside of Hawaii’s endemism is that there
is no replacement pool should our corals and
marine life perish. This vulnerability underscores
one of nature’s hard-won lessons: that the rarest
of creatures are sometimes the most valuable.
EndemicSeaLife
M a s k e dA n g e l f i s h(female above, male below)
Genicanthus personatus
Species photos© David Liittschwagerand Susan Middleton
Ancient Ties Reefto the
The major source of protein in the Hawaiian diet was seafood, so
careful management of ocean resources was essential. The
Hawaiians affectionately referred to inshore areas as the “meat
bowl” and fished or foraged in the shallows or on the reefs daily
(Hawaiians today often refer to the reef as the “ice box”).
Women did the bulk of the gathering, accompanied by children
who soon learned the skills to tease lobster and octopus from
their holes, pry shellfish from the rocks, identify the tastiest limu
(seaweed), and trap fish with basket and net. Yet even with a
pre-contact population estimated as high as 1 million people –
comparable in size to our population today – the Hawaiians
harvested from the sea in a manner that sustained healthy and
resilient fish populations and reef life. Their approach to caring
for resources was both spiritual and highly practical, and based
on a simple conservation ethic:
Ina malama ‘oe i ke kai,malama no ke kai ia ‘oe
If you care for the ocean, the ocean will care for you.
‘A–papa (coral reefs) and the inshore ocean world were
of enormous importance to ancient Hawaiians.
Loko i‘aThe development of loko i‘a (fishponds) allowed
Hawaiians to extend and control the bounty of the
reefs. Hawaiians developed a sophisticated system
of aquaculture by walling in areas of inshore water,
usually around estuaries where fresh water entered
the sea. Gates allowed water to circulate and pua(young fish) to enter while keeping undesirable
fish (such as larger predators) out. As the puamatured and became too large to escape from the
pond, they were harvested for food. The fish that
were not big enough to harvest were released back
on to the reef where they would spawn and
replenish the food supply. The fishpond was thus
part of the larger ahupua‘a system in which
resources were sustainably managed from the
mountains to the sea.
K o n o h i k iUnder the traditional system, the ali‘i (chiefs), held all land “in trust” as
gifts from the gods, and apportioned use rights within each ahupua‘ato their representatives, or konohiki, who were responsible for proper
protocol in how resources were to be managed. The konohiki enforcedseasonal kapu linked to religious observances, but they would also
put in place or remove kapu based on close observation of local
conditions. The konohiki were guided by centuries of passed-down
knowledge, often in proverbs such as Pala ka hala, momona kaha–‘uke‘uke: when the pandanus fruit ripens, the sea urchin is fat [with
eggs]. The wisdom and authority of konohiki were considered absolute.
Lawai‘a nuiKnowledge of the ocean fisheries and reefs, and their resources
was embodied in the lawai‘a nui, a select group of fishing
experts whose ranks included both chiefs and commoners. For
these men, fishing was a science that carried with it a vast
legacy of knowledge. The lawai‘a nui knew all the different
types of fish, their habitats and food preferences, spawning
seasons and migration patterns, as well as the various
techniques for catching them. Together the konohikiand lawai‘a nui, as well as a wide range of otherpractitioners in environmental matters, worked
to implement the long-term management
and use of their ahupua‘a.
Wise ManagementThe ways in which limu (seaweed) were used illustrates just
how thoroughly Hawaiians knew and utilized the resources of
the reef. Hawaiian names for over 60 kinds of edible limu have
been recorded, including limu kala which was needed to begin
the Ho‘oponopono ceremony (to make things right or just) in
times when conflicts or problems were addressed in a family
or community. Seaweed was also used as medicine, for ritual
purification, and as a lei worn by hula dancers. But seaweed,
sometimes affectionately called ka i ‘a lauoho o ke kai (thelong-haired fish of the sea), was primarily an essential part of the
diet, along with fish and poi. It was a particularly important source
of protein and vitamins for women, for whom several foods,
including certain types of fish, were kapu.
K i n s h i p w i t h t h e O c e a nHawaiians revered the ocean and its
myriad life forms with a sense of being
bound in a reciprocal relationship, through
the major gods and through ‘auma–kua(ancestral family guardians), which took
marine forms such as shark or stingray, sea
urchin or sea turtle. This spiritual kinship
was constantly affirmed through taking care
of fishing shrines, making ritual offerings,
and gathering from the ocean only what
was needed.
An Intimate Knowledge of PlaceThe Hawaiian ahupua‘a system of land management
allowed for local control over resources. Each island was
divided into ahupua‘a, typically wedges of land running
from an apex at a high point on the island to the coast
and out to the far edge of the reef. Each ahupua‘a sustained
a community of extended families – ‘ohana – linked by inter-
marriage and the span of generations living in that place. Thus
each community intimately knew the land and adjacent
marine world that sustained them.
K a p u !The kapu system was an important way that Hawaiians conserved
resources. Placing a resource under kapu (proclaiming the taking of
it as taboo) at certain times of the year acknowledged that the things
that sustained humans were gifts from the gods. Kapu were placed or
lifted according to an understanding of natural cycles (seasonal and lunar
cycles, and the corresponding reproductive cycles of marine life), and close
observation of local conditions. Reefs were much affected by changing wave
conditions from summer to winter, and the effects of the moon on currents
and tides. By observing the peak spawning cycles of fish or when sea urchins
produced eggs or seaweed produced spores, Hawaiians would avoid harvesting
at times that disturbed these natural cycles.
Lei limu kala
If the threats are not removed, a reef becomessusceptible to invasion, disease, fragmentation,and even death. Biologists tell us this isalready happening in the main HawaiianIslands, and that people are causing mostof the damage. Overfishing, pollution,sedimentation, heavy recreational use,and the introduction of alien speciesare all human activities that jeopardizethe long-term health of our reefs.Hawai‘i is not alone. Coral reefs in atleast eighty countries are threatened,and within the next fifty years themajority may be damaged beyond repair.The good news is that coral reefs areresilient. If we act in time, we can stillheal our troubled waters and bring our reefsback from the brink.
Coral is a living animal, and a coral reefresonates with life. But like any living system,
it suffers from prolonged exposure todisturbance and stress.
TroubledWaters
0
5 ,000
10 ,000
15 ,000
20 ,000
25 ,000
30 ,000
35 ,000
40 ,000
2000199 119821973196419551949
MO I
MOANA
KUMU
Hawaii’s coral reefs provide us with fish for
both food and the aquarium trade. But
increasing numbers of people are fishing,
and they’re using more sophisticated gear,
vessels, and technology to increase their
catch. As a result, we are harvesting marine
life faster than it can be replenished
through natural growth and reproduction.
Studies show that fish stocks are 20 to 25
percent of what they were a century ago,
and that the aquarium trade in west
Hawai‘i has increased six-fold in the past
twenty years.
D e c l i n i n g C a t c h
HAWAI‘ICOMMERCIAL
CATCH OFCOASTAL MARINE
SPECIES
R e c r e a t i o n a l O v e r u s eSimply stepping on a reef can damage or kill
coral. Coral trampling by uninformed snorkelers,
divers, surfers, and other marine recreational
users can cause severe localized damage to
reefs. So can improper boat anchoring and
mooring. With so many people utilizing our
coral reefs, the damage adds up. Eight million
people annually flock to Waikı-kı- Beach, and the
declining health of that reef reflects the severe
overuse. Even Molokini islet off Maui, which is
accessible only by boat, receives half a million
visitors each year.
C o a s t a l D e v e l o p m e n tImproper coastal development is one of the
greatest threats to our reefs, creating runoff of
sediment and pollution that covers and chokes
coral. In Hawai‘i, where the terrain slopes
dramatically seaward, no place is more than 29
miles from the coast. Most development is
within three miles. Many kinds of runoff damage
coral reefs: sewage discharge (even if treated),
fertilizers (nutrients encourage the growth of
algae that crowd out the reefs), herbicides and
insecticides from homes and golf courses, and
oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from city streets
and storm drains. The effects are especially
pronounced in harbors and bays, such as
Ka-ne‘ohe Bay on O‘ahu, where stream flow has
been diverted and there is less natural flushing
action from the tides and currents that normally
cleanse coral reefs.
M a r i n e D e b r i s a n dP o l l u t i o nMan-made trash in the ocean, or marine debris,
is harmful to reefs and marine life. Marine
debris enters the ocean from ships and from
land, where it is washed out to sea via rivers,
streams and storm drains. Lost, abandoned, and
discarded fishing gear such as monofilament
line, buoys, gill nets and traps, can collect,
entangle, and damage coral and marine mam-
mals and turtles, cutting into them, wounding
them, and ultimately killing them. What’s more,
plastic doesn’t easily degrade and can harm
seabirds and other marine life for years to come.
Land-based sources of pollutants, such as sedi-
ment, nutrients, petroleum products, pesticides,
and sewage also threaten ocean life.
A l i e n S p e c i e sA host of invasive species threaten Hawaii’s
coral reefs. Alien algae, seaweed, coral, fish,
and other foreign organisms introduce disease
and out-compete native species for food and
space. Alien algae already dominates Ka-ne‘ohe
Bay and O‘ahu’s south shore, as well as the south
shores of Maui, Moloka‘i, and Kaua‘i. Ships from
around the world bring alien marine species to
Hawai‘i on their hulls and in their ballast water.
People who empty exotic fish from their salt-
water aquariums into the ocean can compound
the problem.
C o r a l B l e a c h i n gCoral bleaching can occur when a coral reef
experiences a change in seawater temperature
due to global warming, exposure to air or pollu-
tion, or a change in salt content. This bleaching
causes the corals to lose algae that provide
them with nutrition. Corals can survive if the
bleaching is brief, but not if it is prolonged.
Thus far, Hawaii’s coral reefs have recovered
from brief episodes of coral bleaching. But if
the trend in rising water temperatures continues,
any future damage could be permanent.
N a t u r a l D i s a s t e r sCoral reefs are subject to damage from storms,
high wave action, unusually heavy rains (which
causes shallow reefs to be inundated with fresh
water), and extreme low tides. Healthy coral
reefs can usually recover from a natural event
such as a hurricane or a heavy storm. However,
the addition of human-created stresses can
severely diminish their ability to survive.
Source: State Division of Aquatic Resources
Beach photo © David Liittschwager and Susan Middleton
E n c o u r a g e R e s p o n s i b l eF i s h i n g
Some fishing methods are kinder to
the ocean environment than others.
If we return to the traditional
Hawaiian way of catching only
what we need and caring for ocean
life, we can help ensure that future
generations can use and enjoy our
oceans as we have. Everyone who
uses our oceans must take responsi-
bility for caring for them as well. By
knowing and following the regulations
and taking only what is needed, we can
ensure fish for today and for tomorrow.
S t o p t h e I n f l u x a n d S p r e a do f A q u a t i c I n v a s i v e S p e c i e sInvasive marine species in our oceans are causing irrepara-
ble harm to our native ecosystems, human health, and
economy. At least 19 species of algae, 34 species of marine
fishes, and 287 invertebrate species have been introduced
to Hawai‘i, some purposefully (e.g. for food fish) and some
accidentally (e.g. through hull fouling and in ballast water).
Several of these have become unwanted and expensive
pests – for example, Salvinia molesta, which cost nearly $1
million to remove from Lake Wilson, and the invasive algae,
Gracilaria salicornia, which has invaded beaches through-
out the islands. In September 2003, the state released its
Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan, with recom-
mendations for closer collaboration, new policy, research,
and outreach to ensure the prevention, early detection,
and rapid response to invasive aquatic species. While some
progress has been made, we need to continue to fund the
recommendations made in that plan, which was endorsed
by more than a dozen public and
private agencies. You can help
by learning how to
identify our most
common aquatic
invasive species,
and reporting
new infesta-
tions to
DLNR. Check
your nets,
anchor chain
and line,
boat hulls,
and all other
ocean gear to
ensure that you
are not unintention-
ally spreading alien
species from place to
place. Don’t release non-native
animals, plants, or algae into the wild.
D e v e l o p t h e S t a t e ’ sC a p a c i t y t o E n s u r e L e g a lC o m p l i a n c eFor a state with the nation’s fourth longest coast-
line, Hawaii’s enforcement capacity is underfunded
and understaffed. The result is that natural resource
violations often go undetected and unpunished.
A renewed commitment to marine resource man-
agement must go hand in hand with a renewed
commitment to resource enforcement. The taking
of a female lobster out of season or the killing
of an endangered sea turtle or monk seal results
in the irreplaceable loss of a precious public
resource. To help, know the laws and report vio-
lations to the Division of Conservation and
Resource Enforcement at 643-DLNR (643-3567),
and start or join a Makai Watch program in your
coastal community.
With a resident population of 1.3 million and 7 millionvisitors arriving annually, the number of people makingdemands on Hawaii’s reefs reflects what economistscall the tragedy of the commons – too many peopletrying to get what they want out of the same limitednatural resource.
Because Hawaii’s coral reefs are a valuable and essentialpart of our economy, our lifestyles, and our culturalheritage, we as a community must make difficult choicesabout who gets what from them. Since the end of thekonohiki system, we have allowed a free market philoso-phy to govern what happens on our reefs. Although oursociety has instituted rules regarding use of the ocean’sresources, they have proven inadequate, and are often-times ignored. As a result, many of our reefs are nowseverely depleted. Unlike traditional Hawaiians, whoseconservation ethic and kapu system allowed them totake only what they needed, we lack effective incentivesand adequate compliance with laws to conserve near-shore marine life.
Hawaii’s coral reefs generate more than $350 millionof income annually in recreation, fishing, aquariumcapture, research, and other uses. By comparison,investment in understanding and regulating the growingdemands on our reefs is minimal. Given that our reefsare the natural and economic assets on which ourlifestyle and tourist-based economy rely, are we invest-ing enough – and are we investing in the right systems –to safeguard these priceless and irreplaceable pieces ofour natural heritage?
The choices we make about our unique marine assetswill demonstrate our real values. On our reefs, thedesire for short-term profits competes with the long-term survival of a natural and cultural asset that must becarefully managed to yield benefits now and for futuregenerations. Here are six important investments we canmake in our reefs to ensure a sustainable future.
Some natural resources are classified as publicgoods, things that we all share and feel entitledto use for free – for example, our beaches andour reefs.Unfortunately, our reef resources arebecoming increasingly scarce public goods.
ProtectingPriceless
AssetNatural
a
3
4
51
2 I n v e s t O n s h o r e t o P r o t e c t O f f s h o r eIn March 2006, lack of sewer maintenance and limited capacity led
to the dumping of 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the Ala
Wai Canal, where it quickly flowed into the waters off Waikı-kı-.
While never before this large, sewage spills have become common-
place in Hawai‘i, and their impacts are degrading our reefs. During
heavy rains, sewage often combines with wastewater discharge,
storm water, fertilizers and pesticides, and other sources of non-
point pollution as it flows to the sea. If we want to protect and
restore Hawaii’s reefs, we need long-term investment in effective
sewage treatment facilities and an integrated system for preventing
other land-based sources of shoreline pollution. You can do your
part by replacing cesspools, ensuring that your septic system is
installed and functioning properly, using non-
toxic cleaners and detergents, properly
disposing of toxic chemicals, motor
oil, and other solvents, and not
putting anything down the
storm drain – which flows
unimpeded onto our reefs.
S u p p o r t C o m m u n i t y - B a s e dM a r i n e M a n a g e m e n tCoastal communities as diverse as Maunalua in
east Honolulu and Miloli‘i in south Kona are taking
responsibility for managing the ocean resources on
which their lifestyles depend. Many communities
are participating in the state Department of Land
and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Makai Watch
program, informing snorkelers, kayakers, fishers,
boaters, and other ocean users of ocean resource
protection laws. They then work to ensure compli-
ance with those laws and chart the progress of
their efforts, monitoring human use and biological
change over time. In its first year, the Makai Watch
program attracted the interest of nearly 30
communities. Their efforts must be encouraged
through supportive state laws and funding. To start
or join a Makai Watch program in your coastal
community, go to www.hawaii.gov/dlnr.
S h o r t - Te r m C l o s u r e s D o N o t Wo r kScience and experience have shown that short-term closures are not successful at replenishing fish
populations over the long term. For example, at the Waikı-kı-/Diamond Head Fisheries Management Area,
stocks do increase in the year that the area is closed to fishing. However, those increases are immediately
offset when the area is re-opened the following year. More disturbing is the data that indicates that the
fish biomass (both size and abundance of fish) within the Fisheries Management Area is actually getting
smaller over the long term.
C r e a t e N u r s e r y A r e a s f o r F i s hUltimately, if we want to protect our fishing heritage in
Hawai‘i, we need to begin restoring our nearshore reef fish
populations. To do this, our best hope lies in providing
nursery areas for fish to grow large enough to reproduce at
a rate that exceeds the rate of extraction. When given a safe
haven in which to grow and reach full maturity, fish repro-
duce at much healthier rates, and are able to replenish fish
stocks faster and further from their home range. The
process of designating nursery areas must be based on
the best available science and credible local knowledge,
and must involve fishers, local communities, scien-
tists, and government agencies to ensure that the
long-term economic and environmental needs of
the state and its residents are met.
6 P o h n p e i , F e d e r a t e d S t a t e s o fM i c r o n e s i a
When government officials in Pohnpei established seven
marine reserves in 1997, the idea did not have community
support. But after one community began seeing increased
fisheries as a result of setting aside their fishing area,
others soon followed suit. Studies of these community-
based reserves showed that in less than two years the
abundance of rabbitfish and parrotfish increased by 17%
and 80%, respectively, while outside of the reserves there
was a 45% decrease in rabbitfish and a 95% decrease in
parrotfish. Today, Pohnpei has 11 marine reserves, including
all seven of the originally designated areas.
G u a mTwo years after establishing Marine Reserves in Guam,
fishermen reported seeing fish species they hadn’t seen in
more than 20 years. In two of the five areas designated as
reserves, fish populations increased by 113% and 115%, while
the overall diversity of fish species increased in all five areas.
K o n a C o a s t , I s l a n d o f H awa i ‘ iIn 1999, the State of Hawai‘i set aside 35% of the Kona
coastline as Fishery Replenishment Areas – a move designed
to stabilize reef fish populations threatened by the aquari-
um trade. After just five years, populations of yellow tangs,
a prized aquarium fish, were up 111% and populations of
chevron tangs were up 107%. Also up were the number of
aquarium fish collectors, who are now collecting more fish
and making more money in west Hawai‘i than ever before.
A Tr a c k R e c o r d o f S u c c e s s
B i g g e r F i s h = M o r e F i s hLarger, older fish reproduce faster and better than smaller,younger fish. The eggs of older fish are also healthier, andtherefore more likely to survive into adulthood.
For example, a typical six-inchreef fish such as the weke ‘ula(weke) spawns once a year,releasing 90,000 eggs.
A 12-inch weke, on the otherhand, spawns four to fivetimes per year, releasing45,000,000 eggs each time.
6" = 90,000 eggs per year 12" = 180 million eggs per year
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘iSuzanne Case, Executive Director923 Nu‘uanu AvenueHonolulu, HI 96817Phone: (808) 537-4508nature.org/hawaii
Special ThanksEric CoEric ConklinGerry DavisEmily FieldingLarry FriesenCindy HunterWilliam KostkaTrina LebererDeb MatsukawaManuel MejiaBill RaynorAnne RosaAlea SchechterNaomi SodetaniKeoki StenderBill WalshPam Weiant
Hawai‘i State Department ofLand and Natural ResourcesPeter Young, ChairpersonKalanimoku Building1151 Punchbowl StreetHonolulu, HI 96813Fax: (808) 587-0390Email: [email protected]
Produced by
In cooperation withMa-lama Hawai‘i
Executive ProducersKim Hum, The Nature ConservancyAthline Clark, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources
Project DirectorGrady Timmons, The Nature Conservancy
Cultural ConsultantsKepa- Maly, Kumu Pono AssociatesDr. Sam Gon III, The Nature Conservancy
Designed byOstrander-Chu: Daphne Chu, Steve Shrader,Karyn Yasui Lau, Lauren Tamura and Lauren HaraIn memory of Steve Shrader
Contributing WritersPaul BerryPam FriersonLiza SimonJohn Wythe White
Photography/VisualsBishop MuseumDavid BoytonKendra ChoquetteClaudia ChristmanEric CoTami Dawson, Photo Resource HawaiiKatie DokaDavid Fleetham, Oxford ScientificSergio GoesJohn HooverDavid Liittschwager and Susan MiddletonTwain Newhart
Jez O’HareDavid Olson, Photo Resource Hawaii
Franco Salmoiraghi, Photo Resource HawaiiDavid Schrichte, Photo Resource Hawaii
NOAA/Northwestern Hawaiian IslandsDavid Ulrich
Mitchell WarnerJames Watt
Cover photo: James Watt
This brochure is printedon Appleton CoatedUtopia Two, which iselemental chlorine free.
Contains 10% Post-ConsumerRecovered Fiber